Growing up in the Midwest, Graig learned to love forests, trees and working with wood at an ealy age. He was introduced to woodturning as a teenager, in school wood shop classes. All of those interests were put on hold for several decades while he finished school, served in the United States Navy, started a private dental practice and raised a family.In 1989, inspired by the beauty of Hawaiʻiʻs varied woods and the Hawaiian Calabash form, he took up wood-turning as a hobby. Over the years, working exclusively with trees salvaged from the waste stream, he developed skills in wood-turning, carving and building musical instruments. To this day, the Hawaiian Calabash, with its flowing curves, is his favorite form.